We recently heard from a reader who found some creatures in a bag of clothes on the bed and also on a teddy bear. He is curious what they might be, if they are dangerous, and how to get rid of them.

Based on the photos he sent in, we believe he has found carpet beetle larvae. Carpet beetle larvae are often orange or brown in color, and can be identified by the hairs that cover their bodies. While the photos our reader supplied are too zoomed out to see these hairs, we still think he has found carpet beetle larvae based on where he found them. Our readers often write to us about carpet beetle larvae, so we are quite familiar with these creatures!

Carpet beetle larvae feed on fabrics, animal particles, dust, and various other fibers. Although they are not dangerous to humans, they can be quite destructive if not handled correctly. Since carpet beetle larvae can survive for long periods of time without much food, they can be difficult to get rid of. Since our reader found these larvae in a bag of clothes, he should either dispose of these clothes or have them dry cleaned. Additionally, he should invest some time into vacuuming and sweeping his house to eliminate dust and other particles that these larvae might be eating. To keep these creatures from coming back, he should clean regularly and make sure any fabrics or materials lying around his house are being used and washed frequently.

In summary, our reader wrote to us about some “worms” that we believe are carpet beetle larvae. We have provided some information on these creatures!

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